Self-closing cap for collapsible tubes



Aug. 22, 1939. G, DOUGLAS 2,170,588

SELFCLOSING CAP FOB COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed April 13, 1938 Gordan Dozyhs wrmsss ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Gordon Douglas, Stayner, Ontario, Canada, Application Apru'ia, 1938, Serial No. 201,840

1 3 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible tubular containers and more particularly to a self-closing cap which may be applied either as a detachable element or a fixed part of the tube.

The invention has for its principal object to produce a simple and inexpensive self-closing device which is positive in its action and will effectively reseal the container after each use of the tube so as to prevent undue evaporation or deterioration of the contents.

Another object is to produce aclosure device which may be applied to the ordinary tubular container without material alteration in either the container or closure device.

With these and other objects to be attained, the invention consists in the novel construction and application of the device as hereinafter described and set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a practical adaptation of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a collapsible tubular container with a detachable cap of the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, of the cap detached from the container tube; v Figure 3 is an end view of the cap;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the valve element removed from the cap; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the means for securing the cap to the container tube.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates an ordinary collapsible tubular container which is sealed by folding at one end, as at I I, in the usual manner, after being filled, the opposite end portion being tapered, as at l2, and provided with the usual outlet nipple through which the contents are discharged by squeezing and compressing the body portion l0.- This nipple portion is usually screw threaded externally for the reception of a removable cap for which the device of the present invention is substituted.

As shown, the device comprises a cylindrical barrel portion I3 which is provided with a lateral opening l4 surrounded by a collar or nipple extension l5 which is formed with screw threads l6 whereby it may be applied to the ordinary screw threaded nipple portion provided on the regular collapsible tubular container as just above described. One

end portion of the barrel I3 is tapered, as at H,

said tapered portion being truncated to provide a restricted outlet opening. Receivable with a relatively close fit in said outlet opening is the circular shouldered end portion [8 of a valve member IS, the portion 20 of which, adjacent said annular shouldered portion I8, is beveled at an angle corresponding to the taper of the portion I! of the barrel l3, and from this outer beveled portion 20 said valve memberl9 tapers, as at 2|, to a piston 22 to which it is attached axially- Preferably, the valve member l9 and said piston 22 are formed integrally in any approved manner. As shown, at the side of the piston from which the valve member l8 projects a sharp-edged collar or annular flange 23 is provided, while at the opposite side of the piston is an annular cylindrical collar or flange 24 providing .a seat for a spring element 25, which latter'bears at its outer end against a head 26 secured in the end portion of the barrel l3. This head 26 may be attached to the barrel I3 in any desirable manner, but as shown, it is provided with an annular groove into which the adjacent end portion of the barrel I3 is crimped, as at 21.

The spring element 25 is placed under compression between the head 26 and the piston 22 so that it tends to constantly press the valve element IS with its circular shouldered end portion I8 within the outlet opening of the barrel and the beveled end portion 20 of the valve in contact with the adjacent tapered portion ll of the barrel, thereby providing an effective closure seal, and the peculiar end formation of the valve element in addition to affording the sealing effect in the closed portion of the valve, being such that only slight resistance has to be overcome in the closing movement of the valve under the pressure of the spring 25. So, too, by tapering the end portion ll of the barrel there is'merely an annular restricted edge portion surrounding the discharge opening and with which the end portion I8 of the valve member I9 is flush in the closed position of the valve, whereby there is no appreciable surface for adherence of any of the discharged contents to the container.' This is of material advantage in that the cap is readily wiped clean after use as well as protecting the contents of the container against evaporation and deterioration.

By the peculiar tapered form of the valve member l9 there is ample piston surface whereby the valve member is retracted due to the pressure of the contents of the container under the colla-psing pressure of the fingers of the user externally thereof and at the same time there is no interference with the free flow of the contents around the tapered end portion 20 and outer circular shoulder portion l8 of the valve.

Instead of applying the device to the container as a detachable unit as shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive it may be fixedly secured thereto, as shown in Figure 5, in which modification the collar or nipple extension I5 is reduced in diameter through a portion of its length, as at 28, to provide an annular shoulder 29 near its base so as to abut the outer end of the nipple extension 30 of the container [0, through which latter the reduced portion 28 extends and has its inner end portion expanded and flared, as at 3|, to tightly engage the adjacent inner end wall portion of the container, the attachment of the cap to the container being thereby effected with a tight seal. Otherwise, the construction is the same as that illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Obviously, the structure may be modified inmany respects other than herein shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-closing cap for collapsible tubular containers, comprising a transverse barrel having a lateral nipple portion for communicable attachment to the outlet nipple of the container, one end portion of the barrel being tapered and truncated to provide a discharge opening, and a spring pressed elongated, longitudinally reciprocable, valve member in said barrel, said valve member having an axial stud formed with a relatively short, counterpart, beveled forward end portion to engage the inner tapered wall portion of the barrel surrounding the discharge opening thereof and a circular shouldered portion at its extreme end adjacent it's beveled portion, said circular shouldered end portion of the valve member being approximately of the same diameter as the discharge opening of the barrel and being tainer, one end portion of the barrel beingv tapered and truncated to provide a restricted discharge opening, a valve comprising an elongated axial stud portion tapered annularly near its outer end as a counterpart of the adjacent tapered inner wall portion of the barrel and having a flat end-faced circular shouldered portion at its extreme outer end, said tapered portion engaging an adjacent inner wall portion of the barrel and said circular shouldered portion entering the discharge opening with relatively close fit and substantially flush with the surrounding outer edge portion of the barrel in the 'closed position of the valve, said stud portion of the valve tapering rearwardly from said tapered end portion, a piston attached axially to the inner end of said stud portion of the valve and having a sharpened forwardly extending annular flange slidably engaging the adjacent inner wall portion of the barrel, a head member at the opposite end of the barrel, and a spring element interposed between said head member and piston normally urging the valve member into closed position.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and further describing the head member as circumferentially grooved and the adjacent end portion of the barrel being annularly crimped into the grooved portion of the head.

GORDON DOUGLAS. 

